The Supreme Council of Transnistria, Moldova’s separatist region, adopted amendments aimed at mitigating the impact of reduced Russian gas supplies in the first reading on October 8, a statement from the council announced.

The measures follow a sharp fall in gas volumes from Russia since January 2025, which has triggered a growing budgetary shortfall despite the region’s continued access to subsidised energy.

Under the previous arrangement, revenues from gas payments by households and industrial consumers were directed to the regional budget. The arrangement was likely maintained. However, the new supply regime and reduced amounts — supported partly through Russian loans — have proved insufficient to cover budgetary expenditures. The authorities in Tiraspol are now exploring ways to tap financial reserves held by state-controlled banks.

According to the draft legislation, the government plans to use profits accumulated by Transnistrian Sberbank and Eximbank, in which the state holds partial ownership. Nearly 90% of the profits from other state-owned enterprises are already channelled into the regional treasury.

Viktor Guzun, chairman of the Supreme Council’s Committee on Economics, said that “under current circumstances, it is essential to mobilise all possible resources to overcome the consequences of the financial crisis and fulfil social obligations.” He added that the proposed amendments would also allow the banking sector to redirect available resources and profits to the republican budget to sustain essential services, including healthcare and education.

The budgetary crisis comes despite Transnistria’s long-standing practice of not paying for gas supplied by Russia. The developments suggest that the region’s dominant conglomerate, Sheriff, continues to benefit financially from its control over energy and trade, although at reduced margins due to lower gas availability.

Guzun said further consultations would take place before the second reading of the bill to identify a compromise acceptable to the regional central bank, commercial banks, and the government, which remains responsible for salary and pension payments.